A review of Nearctic Lathrobium (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), with revision and descriptions of new flightless species from the mountains of the southeastern U.S.

Abstract

Species of the genus Lathrobium Gravenhorst (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from North America north of Mexico are reviewed and 41 species are recognized. Morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data were used to guide species designations in three flightless lineages endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains, a biologically diverse region known for cryptic diversity. Using a combination of phylogeny, algorithm-based species delimitation analyses, and genitalic morphology, five new cryptic species are described and possible biogeographic scenarios for their speciation hypothesized: L.balsamense Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.camplyacra Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.islae Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.lividum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.smokiense Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov. Five additional species are described: L.absconditum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.hardeni Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.lapidum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.solum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., and L.thompsonorum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov. Two species are transferred from Lathrobium to Pseudolathra Casey: Pseudolathraparcum (LeConte, 1880), comb. nov. and Pseudolathratexana (Casey, 1905), comb. nov. Twenty-six names are reduced to synonymy. Lectotypes are designated for 47 species. Larvae are described where known, and characters of possible diagnostic value are summarized. Species diagnoses, distributions, illustrations of male and female genitalia, and a key to Lathrobium species known from the Nearctic region (including several introduced species) are provided.